State Briefs 12/29/08

Monday

MOUNT VERNON — One of southern Illinois’ largest contributors to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign fund denied pay-to-play politics were a factor in his appointment to the state Department of Employment Security.

Since 2002, Hunt Bonan, owner of Market Street Bancshares, the holding company for Peoples National Bank, made personal contributions to Friends of Blagojevich totaling $20,375, according to the State Board of Elections. Contributions listed as provided by Market Street Bancshares total $124,225.

Bonan is one of six residents from either Mount Vernon or McLeansboro to receive appointments during the governor’s six years in office.

McLeansboro, a town with a population of 2,945 and the home to Hunt Bonan, Frank William “Bill” Bonan II and the Bonan Law Offices, is listed by the state elections board as home to donations to the Blagojevich campaign of $104,930.

Hunt Bonan was appointed to the Department of Employment Security Board of Review in 2003.

“None of those donations had to do with my appointment,” Bonan told GateHouse News Service. “I’ve been making donations to the governor since he began running in 2002, in the primary.”

Apparent tornado strikes Fulton County

FAIRVIEW -- The storm that blew through Fulton County on Saturday brought rain, wind and possibly a tornado. Some homes on the northeast corner of Fairview were damaged by the storm, a resident reported today.

"I had a tornado on Saturday and on Sunday at my home," said Dixie Way, who lives next to the ballpark on the northeast part of town. "One neighbor lost a chimney cap, and a shed blew over into my yard. My patio was annihilated."

Way said the storm hit around 11:30 or 11:45 a.m. Saturday. She added she learned later someone who lives on the southwest edge of Fairview had spotted what appeared to be a funnel cloud forming and then went into the basement.